PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gil Shaffer (ranked 7641 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brandon Boucher (ranked 5551 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Shaffer
vs
Boucher

170 cm
24
215 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

191 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Gil Shaffer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Brandon Boucher!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Steve Smith and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Boucher shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Shaffer sprawls well. Shaffer wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Boucher gets slowly back to his feet.
Shaffer is trying hard to land a takedown here. Boucher sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Boucher goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Boucher scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

It looks like Gil Shaffer has been cut.
Shaffer throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Boucher's waist but Boucher gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Shaffer off to one side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Boucher throws a series of strikes that have Shaffer backpedaling.
Boucher keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gil Shaffer. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Boucher has Shaffer up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shaffer is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Boucher is defending well for now.
Shaffer wants to stall.
Boucher working hard to break the clinch.
Shaffer really is a fat lump.
Shaffer trying to stall but Boucher improves his position.
Shaffer letting Boucher take a breather here.

Shaffer manages to break the clinch.
Shaffer keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Shaffer attempts a counter takedown but Boucher avoids it well and moves away.

Boucher instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shaffer breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Shaffer looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Boucher is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Shaffer stops Boucher from getting back to his feet.

Shaffer is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Boucher is just riding it out for now. Shaffer eventually gives up the hold.
Shaffer not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Boucher works his way to full guard. Good work.
Shaffer chips away with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shaffer throwing strikes from guard but Boucher blocks nicely.

Boucher is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Shaffer defends well.
Shaffer is looking to stand up but Boucher won't let him.

Shaffer decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Boucher closes the distance but Shaffer moves to the side

and Shaffer counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Boucher makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Boucher throws the kick towards the body but Shaffer avoids it.
Boucher shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Shaffer as he avoids it easily.
Shaffer lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Shaffer throws a solid leg kick but Boucher takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Shaffer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boucher throws a head kick but Shaffer moves out of range.
Boucher looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Shaffer is fending him off so far but Boucher persists. Nope, Shaffer circles away and we're back to standing.
Boucher looks winded!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Boucher has his takedown stuffed
and Shaffer counters with a two punch combo.
The fight stays on the outside here - Boucher looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Shaffer closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Boucher sneaks out the side door and pushes Shaffer away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Brandon Boucher will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Gil Shaffer's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Boucher tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Shaffer manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Boucher tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Boucher closes the distance and clinches up with Shaffer, looking for a takedown. Boucher pushes Shaffer against the cage but Shaffer circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Shaffer shoots in but Boucher avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Shaffer shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Boucher as he jumps to the side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shaffer stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Shaffer wants it to stay on the feet.
Boucher shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Gil Shaffer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brandon Boucher.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Boucher tries to keep at a distance but Shaffer has taken the fight into the clinch.
Shaffer stalls.
Boucher tries to break the clinch but Shaffer is controlling the position.

Shaffer has picked Boucher up - he's going for a ride! Shaffer dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Boucher kicks Shaffer off and gets back to his feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Boucher is defended easily by Shaffer.
Shaffer stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Shaffer wants it to stay on the feet.

Shaffer feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Shaffer might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Boucher is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shaffer is looking to stand up but Boucher won't let him.
Shaffer landing with the ground and pound.
Shaffer postures up and lands a big shot to Boucher's brow.
Shaffer is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Boucher trying to strike off his back.
Shaffer tries to stand but Boucher is controlling from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Boucher looking to hit a scissor sweep but Shaffer is one step ahead there.
Shaffer postures up and lands a big shot to Boucher's brow.
Shaffer tries to stand but Boucher is controlling from the bottom.
Shaffer working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Boucher's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shaffer landing some decent shots from guard.
Shaffer would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Shaffer throws a big right hand that misses.

Shaffer gets to his feet - Boucher follows without any prompting.
Boucher misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Boucher shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Shaffer darts in looking for a takedown but Boucher gets double underhooks and turns Shaffer into the cage.
Boucher is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Boucher lands a glancing blow to the side of Shaffer's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boucher misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Boucher shoots in for a double leg but Shaffer sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Shaffer seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Boucher moves in looking to clinch but Shaffer pushes him off.
Boucher fails in his attempt to clinch.
Boucher wants to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gil Shaffer dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Gil Shaffer's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Shaffer uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Boucher.
Shaffer tries to counter with a takedown but Boucher is quick to defend against it.
Boucher pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Shaffer throws a big counter combination but Boucher scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Horrible takedown attempt by Shaffer or perhaps it was just good defense by Boucher, which made it look bad.
Boucher tries for a takedown but Shaffer circles away easily

and Shaffer moves into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Shaffer manages to break the clinch.
Shaffer darts in looking for a takedown but Boucher gets double underhooks and turns Shaffer into the cage.
Boucher wants to clinch but Shaffer slips to the side

and Shaffer counters with a single leg into guard. Boucher didn't expect that.

Boucher has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Shaffer off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Gil Shaffer is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Boucher gets caught flat footed, as Shaffer shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Shaffer throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Boucher works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Shaffer lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Shaffer works over Boucher with some ground and pound from guard.
Shaffer postures up and lands a big shot to Boucher's brow.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Boucher tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Boucher is controlling Shaffer's posture.
Boucher preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Shaffer makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Shaffer is working Boucher over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Shaffer with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boucher is trying to keep Shaffer in close.
Shaffer makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Shaffer throws a big right hand that misses.
Shaffer keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Boucher's head.
Shaffer keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Boucher's head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shaffer wanted to stand there but Boucher had control of the position.
Shaffer postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Shaffer would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Boucher looking for a sweep. Not yet Boucher, not yet.
Shaffer with a flurry of punches that miss.
Shaffer is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Shaffer lands a couple of elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shaffer lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Boucher looking for a sweep. Not yet Boucher, not yet.
Shaffer is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Boucher has a closed guard, preventing Shaffer from standing up.
Shaffer postures up in Boucher's guard and throws a big left but Boucher blocks it.

Boucher is working an open guard so Shaffer takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Nice takedown defense from Boucher. No joy for Shaffer on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gil Shaffer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Boucher shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Boucher misses the shot to the body.
As Boucher looks to move away, Shaffer throws a big counter combo but Boucher just gets out of the way.
Boucher shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Shaffer but Shaffer pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Shaffer wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Boucher. No joy for Shaffer on that attempt.

Boucher moves into range and clinches up with Shaffer.

Shaffer breaks the clinch.
Gil Shaffer is winning the standup battle so far.
Shaffer swats away the attempt to clinch by Boucher.
Shaffer shoots for a takedown but Boucher saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Boucher shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Shaffer but Shaffer pushes him off and we're back to square one.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gil Shaffer showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Shaffer has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gil Shaffer!